Apparatus for holding portable devices

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a device cradle being configured to removably retain a portable device. The device cradle comprises a u-shaped frame being configured to receive and hold at least three peripheral sides of the portable device. An easel is in engagement with the cradle. The easel comprises lower attachment points configured to engage carrying apparatuses. The easel is further configured to extend upward from a back bottom of the frame. A junction is in engagement with a top of the easel. A hoop structure is in engagement with the junction. The hoop structure is positionable to have a spring-forward tension towards the easel to form a clip in which the clip may engage a structure and the portable device is removably secured to the structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a device cradle being configured to removably retain a portable device, said device cradle comprising a generally u-shaped frame being configured to receive and substantially hold at least two or more peripheral sides of the portable device; 
 an easel being configured into engagement with said cradle, said easel comprising lower attachment points being configured to substantially engage carrying apparatuses, said easel being further configured to substantially extend upward from a generally back bottom of said frame; 
 a junction being configured into engagement with a top of said easel; 
 a hoop structure being configured into engagement with said junction, said hoop structure being positionable to have a substantially spring-forward tension towards said easel to substantially form a clip in which said clip may significantly engage a structure and the portable device is removably secured significantly to the structure and 
 a locking mechanism being configured for significantly retaining said hoop structure, said locking mechanism comprises at least a washer spring latch having at least one generally arching spring appendage, and at least one plunger device configured to substantially engage said arching spring appendage to generally release said locking mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , in which said junction comprises a T-junction having a bottom portion being configured for engaging said easel and a top portion being configured for engaging said hoop structure, said top portion being generally pivotal relative to said bottom portion for selectively positioning of said hoop structure relative to said device cradle. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , in which said hoop structure is positionable for substantially supporting the apparatus on a substantially horizontal surface. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , in which said top portion is substantially pivotal about a formed hinge. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , in which said T-junction further comprises a tension screw being configured for engagement with said locking mechanism. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , in which said washer spring latch and said tension screw are positionable in said bottom portion of said T-junction. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , in which said arching spring appendage substantially protrudes from an opening in said bottom portion of said T-junction, and said plunger device is positionable in said top portion of said T-junction. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a contact liner being configured to substantially engage an interior of said u-shaped frame to engage the peripheral sides of the portable device. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , in which said u-shaped frame further comprises at least two or more slots substantially extending from said interior to an exterior, and said contact liner is further configured to substantially protrude though said slots wherein an application of force on said protruding contact liner is operable for activation of buttons on the peripheral sides of the portable device. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , in which said contact liner comprises a flexible material for selective activation of a button. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mounting bracket comprising a slot, a holding clip within said slot being configured to engage said hoop structure, and at least one surface being configured for engaging a flat surface of a structure wherein the apparatus is substantially supported on the structure. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , in which said at least one surface comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus comprising:
 a device cradle being configured to removably retain a portable device, said device cradle comprising a generally u-shaped frame having at least two or more slots substantially extending from an interior to an exterior, and being configured to receive and substantially hold at least two or more peripheral sides of the portable device; 
 a contact liner being configured to substantially engage said interior of said u-shaped frame to substantially engage the generally peripheral sides of the portable device, and to substantially protrude through said slots wherein an application of force on said protruding contact liner is operable for activation of buttons on said peripheral sides of the portable device; 
 an easel being configured into engagement with said cradle, said easel comprising lower attachment points being configured to engage carrying apparatuses, said easel being further configured to substantially extend upward from a generally back bottom of said frame; 
 a T-junction being configured into engagement with a top of said easel, said T-junction comprising a bottom portion for substantially engaging a top of said easel, a top portion, said top portion being pivotal about a substantially formed hinge relative to said bottom portion, a tension screw being positionable in said formed hinge in said bottom portion, and a locking mechanism for substantially retaining said top portion in a selected position, said locking mechanism comprising at least a washer spring latch having an arching spring appendage, and a plunger device being configured to substantially engage said arching spring appendage to release said locking mechanism, said washer spring latch being positionable in said formed hinge in said bottom portion to substantially engage said tension screw with said arching spring appendage substantially protruding from an opening in said bottom portion, said plunger device being positionable in said top portion; and 
 a hoop structure being configured into engagement with said top portion of said T-junction, said hoop structure being positionable in a first position, by selective positioning of said top portion, to have a generally spring-forward tension towards said easel to substantially form a clip in which said clip may engage a structure and the portable device is removably secured to the structure, and said hoop structure being positionable in a plurality of positions, by selective positioning of said top portion, to have at least one position for significantly supporting the apparatus on a substantially horizontal surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising at least one mounting bracket comprising a slot, a holding clip within said slot being configured to substantially engage said hoop structure, and at least one surface being configured for engaging a flat surface of a structure wherein the apparatus is substantially supported on the structure. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as recited in  claim 14 , in which said at least one surface comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , in which said contact liner comprises a flexible material for selective activation of a button.